Tuesday, October 10, 2006

The sign for the bakery in the North Beach area These are really cakes! Unfortunately the bakery was not open when we were there.

What can I say, we loved vacationing in San Francisco so much we can't stop posting about what we saw there. I was delighted when we walked past this window in the North Beach area. At first I thought these were accessories, but when I looked closer I realised they were far from it. How creative, what a skill to be able to make something like this. Whenever I frost a simple layer cake it always turns out looking like an “ugly cake” (see the photos of an ugly cake from the post below) without me even trying to make an ugly cake. I have been looking around the house and thinking about what kind of object I could construct into a cake and decided it would be a replica of my bathroom scale. I like the idea for a couple of reasons first it is a relatively flat and simple shape good for beginners to craft. The numbers are digital and could be easily piped onto the cake and I would hope after slicing a piece of “thinner sport scale” cake, I would think twice about eating it.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

At the second helping house we have long ago shed our addiction to the television. We do have a sixteen year old TV and a much newer DVD player, but no cable, no antenna, no dish and little idea of what this seasons offerings hold. Even so, avoidance of the tube is nearly impossible and yes I have watched Food TV at my mother in laws house many times. Usually several of us watch together, our communal passion is food. We especially enjoy watching Emeril work up the appetite of the live audience, this is solid entertainment. Along the way we learn a new technique or pick up some new culinary ideas, no guilt TV. Lets face it, Emeril and his creative team are very successful, the show's key to success is in dreaming up all sort and manner of fanciful food “that you to can prepare at home”. We are also fortunate to have thinking friends that watch television too, I know that sounds like an oxymoron, (thinking and television). I don’t believe viewing has dulled their ideas or opinions. When they suggested doing a complete Emeril meal I became as excited as Emeril, “Yes ! Lets kick it up a notch and say good bye to a long hot summer”. The following picture essay is our translation of Emeril’s “Firehouse Crab Boil” and “Ugly Cake”, crazy concepts and a complete blast!

Firehouse Crab Boil Note: We used a 60-quart aluminium pot with a strainer insert and did this over a propane burner outdoors. You could probably get away with a pot slightly smaller, such as a 45- or 50-quart pot, as we had about 6 inches of head space left in ours. This is definitely do-able indoors, but you may need to do it in 2 large pots on the stove and it will probably take quite a while for the pots to boil.

One day before you plan to boil the crabs: If you have a heatproof, submergible vessel that will hold 1 or 2 gallons of water that may be frozen, fill these with water and freeze until frozen solid.In a very large (40 to 60-quart) pot combine the crab boil, lemons, onions, garlic, and 6 gallons of water and heat over high heat, stirring, until the powdered seasoning has dissolved. Add the crabs, potatoes, corn, artichokes, smoked sausage and hot dogs. (Everything should be submerged in liquid – if not, add a bit more water to cover.) Cover the pot and bring to a boil. Cook at a rolling boil for 6 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the mushrooms. Cover the pot and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.Add the frozen vessels to the hot crab boil and stir occasionally very gently to facilitate even cooling. This will prevent the crabs from overcooking and will also force them to absorb the seasoning from the crab boil. Let the crabs sit in the water for at least 1 hour before serving. You can let the crabs sit until completely cool, if desired, or you can serve the crabs warm.Using tongs or strainers, carefully remove the crabs from the pot along with the onions, garlic, potatoes, corn, artichokes, sausage, hot dogs, and mushrooms and spread out on large platters or on newspaper lined tables for folks to enjoy.

Some of the raw ingredients for the crab boil and ugly cakeThe cooking setup The completed boil and chilling process Retrieving the boilThere is newspaper under the table clothNext to eating, dumping the food on the table was the best part

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 by 13-inch baking pan; set aside.Sift the cake flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt and set aside.In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 batches alternating with the buttermilk and ending with the flour. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vanilla and stir to combine well. Transfer batter to the prepared cake pan and bake until the cake is light golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.Transfer the pan to a wire rack and allow the cake to cool slightly. Turn the cake out of the pan onto a rack and allow to cool completely.Cut or break the cake into 2 to 3-inch pieces. Working on a large platter or in a large serving bowl, place a layer of cake pieces onto the platter and spoon or pour half of the pudding over the cake. Top with the remaining cake pieces and, using your hands, press the cake pieces into the pudding to form a round mound resembling a cake. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.Place the heavy cream in a large, chilled mixing bowl and beat until mixture just begins to form soft peaks. Add the confectioners' sugar and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla and beat until stiff peaks form. Spoon whipped cream all over the mound of cake and pudding and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving. Serve with dollops of the remaining pudding.

Chocolate Pudding:

5 cups milk

1 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup cornstarch, sifted

2 large eggs

4 large egg yolks

10 ounces quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Place 4 1/2 cups of the milk, 1/2 cup of the sugar, and the salt in a heavy, non reactive saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. In a mixing bowl combine the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, the cocoa and the cornstarch and whisk to combine. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and whisk until smooth.Slowly whisk some of the hot milk mixture into the bowl, then add the contents of the bowl to the hot milk mixture and whisk until completely incorporated. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a gentle boil. Continue to boil gently until mixture thickens, about 2 minutes.In a small bowl whisk the eggs and egg yolks together. Slowly add 1 cup of the hot cocoa mixture to the eggs and whisk to combine. Whisk this mixture into the hot cocoa mixture in the pot and reduce the heat to medium low. Cook, whisking constantly, until pudding thickens slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Do not allow the mixture to boil.Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean bowl and place a sheet of plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Set aside to cool.Melt the chocolate with the butter in a small saucepan or in a double boiler and, when slightly cooled, whisk the chocolate mixture into the pudding base along with the vanilla. Cover again with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator until chilled but still slightly pourable. Use half in the Ugly Cake assemblage and refrigerate the remaining half until thoroughly chilled and serve with the Ugly Cake.

Putting the cake togetherMaking the ugly cake uglierWe're not in Iowa anymore

We have an appreciation for well prepared food and for the countless generations of cooks that have tasted, tested and documented their recipes. This has made it possible for usto experience a bit of culinary history, cultures and theinfinite possibility of taste.